Chapter Three: The sketchbook
1977 Words
Jennifer arrived at the institute earlier than usual the next morning.
She had barely slept.
Her sketchbook was still missing.
It wasn't just an ordinary notebook. It contained years of her dreams, ideas, and designs. Some of the sketches inside were ideas she had never shown anyone, not even her mother.
She had promised herself that she would find it before the day ended.
She hurried through the entrance and went straight to the classroom.
Her first thought was that perhaps she had left it beneath her desk.
She searched carefully.
Nothing.
She checked the hallway.
Nothing.
She even returned to the place where she had dropped her books the previous day.
Still nothing.
“Looking for something?”
Jennifer turned around.
It was Chloe.
Jennifer forced a polite smile.
“Yes. My sketchbook.”
“The black one?”
Jennifer's eyes widened.
“Yes! Have you seen it?”
Chloe shrugged.
“No. I just remember seeing you with it yesterday.”
“Oh.”
Jennifer's excitement disappeared.
“I'm really hoping I find it.”
Chloe studied her for a moment.
“You should be more careful with your things.”
Jennifer nodded.
“I know.”
Chloe walked away.
Jennifer watched her leave.
Something about the conversation felt strange, but she didn't have time to think about it.
Her lecturer entered the classroom.
“Everyone, settle down.”
Jennifer took her seat.
She tried to concentrate, but her mind kept returning to the missing sketchbook.
Then her phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen.
An unknown number.
Unknown: Good morning.
Jennifer frowned.
She didn't recognize the number.
She ignored it.
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
Unknown: I think I have something that belongs to you.
Jennifer's heart stopped.
She immediately typed a reply.
Jennifer: My sketchbook?
The response came almost immediately.
Unknown: Yes.
Jennifer stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Unknown: You left it in my car.
She knew exactly who it was.
Alexander.
Her cheeks became warm.
She looked around the classroom as if someone might somehow know what she was thinking.
Jennifer: How did you get my number?
There was a short pause.
Alexander: Your number was written on the registration form you dropped yesterday.
Jennifer frowned.
She remembered dropping a form.
Apparently, Alexander had picked that up too.
Jennifer: Oh.
Then:
Jennifer: Can I have my sketchbook back?
Alexander: Of course.
Jennifer: When?
Alexander: After your classes.
Jennifer hesitated.
Jennifer: Okay. Thank you.
She put her phone away.
Her heart was beating faster than it should have.
She told herself it was only because she was getting her sketchbook back.
Nothing else.
Absolutely nothing else.
---
After class, Jennifer went to the small café across from the institute.
Alexander had asked her to meet him there.
She arrived five minutes early.
She looked around nervously.
Then a black car stopped outside.
Alexander stepped out.
Jennifer recognized him immediately.
He was wearing a simple white shirt with dark trousers. He looked relaxed compared with the day before.
He walked toward her.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
He held up the sketchbook.
Jennifer's face immediately brightened.
“My sketchbook!”
Alexander laughed.
“You really missed it.”
“You have no idea.”
She reached for it.
He handed it over.
Jennifer held it against her chest.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
She opened it quickly and flipped through the pages.
Everything was there.
She sighed with relief.
“Nothing is missing.”
Alexander smiled.
“I wouldn't steal your designs.”
Jennifer looked at him.
“I know.”
He pulled out a chair.
“Can I sit?”
She nodded.
They sat across from each other.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Alexander said, “You're really talented.”
Jennifer looked down.
“You saw them?”
“I did.”
She became uncomfortable.
“You shouldn't have.”
“I know.”
He didn't make excuses.
“I shouldn't have opened it. I'm sorry.”
Jennifer looked at him.
The sincerity in his voice surprised her.
“It's okay.”
“I was curious.”
She smiled slightly.
“You're very curious.”
“Maybe.”
A waiter approached.
Alexander ordered a drink.
Jennifer only ordered water.
When the waiter left, Alexander leaned back.
“So, why fashion?”
Jennifer thought for a moment.
“I've always loved creating things.”
She touched the cover of her sketchbook.
“When I was younger, I used to take pieces of old fabric from my mother's sewing box and make clothes for my dolls.”
Alexander smiled.
“You started young.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I want to build something real.”
“What?”
“A fashion brand.”
Alexander looked impressed.
“That's ambitious.”
“I know.”
“What would you call it?”
Jennifer laughed.
“I don't know yet.”
“You should think about it.”
“I will.”
He studied her.
“You really love this.”
Jennifer nodded.
“Very much.”
Alexander was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked, “Why do you want to succeed so badly?”
Jennifer's smile faded slightly.
“My family.”
He waited.
“I want to give them a better life.”
“You don't want it for yourself?”
“Of course I do.”
She smiled.
“But my family comes first.”
Alexander looked down at the table.
He couldn't remember the last time someone had said something like that without expecting something in return.
His world was different.
People were always trying to get something from his family.
Money.
Connections.
Opportunities.
Attention.
Jennifer seemed different.
She didn't even seem impressed by his wealth.
In fact, she had barely mentioned it.
“Can I ask you something?” Jennifer said.
“Sure.”
“Why were you at my school yesterday?”
“My father sent me.”
“Does he always send you to do things for him?”
Alexander laughed without humor.
“Pretty much.”
“What's that like?”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Having a father who expects so much from you?”
Alexander's smile disappeared.
“Complicated.”
Jennifer sensed that she had touched something personal.
“Sorry. You don't have to answer.”
“No. It's fine.”
He looked out of the window.
“My father has already decided what my future should look like.”
“And what do you want?”
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
“I don't know.”
Jennifer looked surprised.
“You don't?”
“I've spent most of my life doing what I'm expected to do.”
She studied him quietly.
“Then maybe you should find out what you want.”
Alexander looked at her.
“You make it sound easy.”
“I didn't say it would be easy.”
She smiled.
“But I think everyone deserves to choose their own life.”
Something about those words stayed with him.
---
They talked for almost an hour.
Jennifer told him about her family.
She told him about her little brother's obsession with television and her sister's habit of stealing her hair accessories.
Alexander laughed more that afternoon than he had in weeks.
Jennifer noticed.
“You laugh a lot more than you look like you do.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“What does that mean?”
“You always look serious.”
“Maybe I have a serious face.”
“Maybe.”
She laughed.
He smiled.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was strangely easy.
Then Alexander's phone rang.
He glanced at it.
His father's name appeared.
His expression changed immediately.
“I have to take this.”
Jennifer nodded.
He stood and walked a few steps away.
“Hello, Dad.”
Jennifer wasn't trying to listen, but the conversation wasn't difficult to hear.
“Where are you?”
“I'm outside.”
“Outside where?”
“The institute.”
“You were supposed to come to the office.”
“I know.”
“Alexander, this isn't a game.”
“I'll come.”
“You've been avoiding your responsibilities again.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“I said I'll come.”
The call ended.
He returned to the table.
“I have to go.”
Jennifer nodded.
“It's okay.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
“I'll pay.”
Jennifer immediately shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“No?”
“I can pay for my water.”
He laughed.
“It's just water.”
“I know.”
“Then let me.”
Jennifer smiled.
“Fine.”
Alexander looked at her for a second.
“You're stubborn.”
“So I've been told.”
He laughed again.
“See you tomorrow?”
Jennifer wasn't expecting the question.
“Tomorrow?”
“If you're here.”
“I will be.”
“Then I'll see you.”
He walked away.
Jennifer watched him leave.
She looked down at her sketchbook.
Then she smiled.
She didn't know why.
---
Across the street, Alexander got into his car.
His driver looked at him through the mirror.
“Back to the office, sir?”
“Yes.”
The driver started the engine.
After a moment, he glanced at Alexander.
“You seem happy today.”
Alexander frowned.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
Alexander looked out the window.
He thought about Jennifer.
The way she spoke about her family.
The way her face lit up when she talked about fashion.
The way she had refused to let him pay for something as simple as a glass of water.
He smiled without realizing it.
“Maybe I am.”
---
When Jennifer got home that evening, her mother noticed immediately.
“You're smiling.”
Jennifer stopped.
“Am I?”
Grace smiled knowingly.
“Yes.”
“I'm just happy I found my sketchbook.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
Jennifer laughed.
“Mama.”
“What?”
“Nothing happened.”
“I didn't say anything happened.”
Jennifer shook her head.
“You're already imagining things.”
Grace laughed.
“I'm your mother. I'm allowed to imagine.”
Jennifer carried her sketchbook into her room.
She placed it carefully on her desk.
Then she opened it.
She stared at the drawings.
But instead of thinking about her designs, she thought about Alexander.
She remembered his voice.
His smile.
The sadness in his eyes when he talked about his father.
She quickly closed the sketchbook.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“This is too soon.”
She had only met him twice.
She barely knew him.
And besides, he belonged to a world completely different from hers.
She couldn't afford to get distracted.
Her dream came first.
Her family came first.
She turned on her desk lamp and began working on her fashion project.
But despite her determination, one thought kept returning.
See you tomorrow?
Jennifer smiled.
Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be so bad after all.
---
The following morning, Alexander arrived at the institute earlier than necessary.
He told himself it was because he had another meeting nearby.
But even he knew that wasn't true.
He was looking for Jennifer.
And when he finally saw her walking through the entrance with her sketchbook in her arms, he realized something that made him both nervous and excited.
He was beginning to look forward to seeing her.
And Jennifer had no idea that the billionaire's son was already starting to fall for the girl who had no idea how much his world was about to change.
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